My City: Buck Rides North Carolina’s Rising Tide (Exclusive Interview)

After years of bubbling just below the surface, North Carolina's hip-hop movement has exploded onto the national scene over the past two years. One new emcee riding this rising tide is Buck, the emcee RefinedHype readers first heard on "The Honesty". In the latest of our "My City" series, Buck sits down to talk about his earliest hip-hop memories, his move to NC and the pleasures of hanging out on Lawndale Ave.

RefinedHype: You were born and raised in Connecticut, a place that on the surface isn't known for its hip-hop. Where you surrounded by hip-hop growing up?

Buck: Being that I am from Stamford, CT, a quick 20 to 30 minute drive from the Bronx, where it all started, I would most definitely say that I was surrounded by Hip-Hop.

I was born in the 80's and raised in the 90's, a time period when the culture was very young and at its peak, so all of that innovation and culture that flooded the Bronx and spilled over into the other boro's also spilled over into the state of CT.

My parents were pretty young when they had me, so my pops was and still is a huge fan of Hip-Hop. A lot of what he did represented the culture and his love for it so that ultimately rubbed off on me, and I now I love the culture just as much, if not more.

Matter of fact there are three distinct memories I have about the Hip-Hop culture growing up. The first is of one of my pops closest friends at that time. His name was Ronnie and he used to rock the rolled up handkerchief hard, and every time I would see him he would beat-box for me, and he was nice at it too. It got to the point where I would feel some type of way if homie didn't do it for me when ever I seen him. So if he somehow forgot the he had an obligation he towards me, I would nag the hell out of him until he did it. The other of distinct memory I have of Hip-Hop is of my grandmothers soul food restaurant. Out in the back there was crazy graffiti art all over the walls. I thought that was so dope. I couldn't read what it said, and thinking back, i'm sure it wasn't anything elaborate, either way, the way it looked was ill. The last memory I have of Hip-Hop in my childhood is of the legendary movie Beat Street. I remember finding the VHS joint in my grandmothers house in my aunts room and just popping it in not really knowing what it was. The minute I seen the first scene where they were breaking on the street, I was like this right is what I want!

RefinedHype: After first giving up on rap, you left Connecticut to move to Greensboro, NC to restart your rap career. Why Greensboro?

Buck: Well first off it wasn't really to restart my rap career, it was more so to start a new life. CT got boring. Dudes I knew weren't really about bettering themselves at that time and I couldn't allow myself to be subject to that way of thinking. On top of that, I was enrolled at the University of Connecticut, and I wasn't feeling it up there at all. I just wanted to go somewhere new and far away from home, so I figured south would be a good look.

As far as answering the question why Greensboro, I really couldn't tell you homie. When I was looking for somewhere to escape to the two places that were on my map were Atlanta, Ga. and Greensboro, NC. I had an aunt in ATL but I didn't want to go down there and live off her, and since Greensboro was the only other option at the time, I said F it, i'm going to pack my bags, hop on this greyhound and see what happens. Now mind you, I had and still have no family down here, I no idea where I was going to stay and I wasn't even sure if I was going to be enrolled in the University. I was just stepping out on faith and praying that it was the right move. I probably didn't think that plan all the way through, but It all worked out though. I was able to work through some really trying times and come out on top all while being able to find out what it is i'm really destined to do in this life which is make dope music.

RefinedHype: From J. Cole to 9th Wonder to King Mez to FamCo and many more, North Carolina's suddenly become a hip-hop epicenter. Does it feel like there's a growing movement in the region?

Buck: There is definitely a growing movement out here in NC, and not only that its a movement any real Hip-Hop fan can appreciate. Just look at the names you listed. King Mez, who by the way is a real good dude. I got a chance to meet homie and I must say, he's one of the few people out there who really appreciate their fans and he doesn't take for granted the fact that he is an absolute beast. J. Cole, 9th, oh and some guy named Phonte, and another named Pooh, and this other cat named Apple Juice Kid. Seriously though, Hip-Hop is all over the place out here the only draw back in my opinion is that you have to really be looking for it to find it or at least be in that circle to know where to go to find it. For a long time, I had no clue where to go to find dope MC's it wasn't until recently that I was able to link up with some good people and figure out just where Hip-Hop had been hiding. And since there is a growing movement out here, its definitely a good look for artist on the come up such as myself, Jones Andrews, Swayze Jones, FSM, and a whole host of other dope MC's in the state.

RefinedHype: If I'm rolling through Greensboro where can I find you?

Buck: Right off Lawndale Ave sitting in front of my computer looking for and listening to beats and new music. I roll dolo 90% of the time so you can honestly spot anywhere. Just make sure when you do spot say what up.

RefinedHype: Last words? Shout outs? Confessions?

Buck: I first want to say thank you to the creator of this beautiful place we call planet earth. Without God I wouldn't have anything to say to you good folks that are reading this interview right now. I also want to give thanks to you Nathan for allowing me this opportunity. I want to say what up to my FamCo family. Evan, Jones Andrews, Swayze, and Raheem. Shouts to J-mac, Barz and my homie Dre even though we argue like brothers you still my dude, my homie Will, what up kid we need to get right! And lastly, I would like to leave everyone with this even though it is as cliche as it comes. Follow your heart because when you do life is so much easier. For a long time I denied myself my god given right to do what I love and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why I was so unhappy. It wasn't until I realized my gift and remembered what my passion truly is, when things started to make more sense and fall into place. So yeah, do what you love not what you can.